Parents of children with ADHD may find symptoms before school-age

Children with attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder exhibit an inability to sit-still or focus,but parents may be able to identify some of the signs of ADHD very early on.

Dr. Joe Austerman of the Cleveland Clinic treats the disorder at Cleveland Clinic Children's says that parents may notice the signs before they even start school.

"What we're looking at now is that most ADHD shows up around the age of four," he explains, "but we're finding out that there is a subgroup of kids that don't develop symptoms until around age 11 to 13, but mostly that's inattention."

The attention span of a child with ADHD are is often compared to a leaf blowing in the wind- constantly changing direction.

Children with ADHD are also much more impulsive than typical children and that the signs may become more apparent when a child starts school. because this will be the first time they're required to direct their attention to something they may not be entirely interested in doing.

Dr. Austerman adds that parents who are worried may want to spend a day at school. "If you say "man, my kid seems a little more wild than the other kids," or they seem not to be listening to the teacher, that's when you say let me get them to a doctor to evaluate this a little more fully."